Can-filling apparatus.



W. J. PHELPS.

. CAN FILLING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED 1101.7, 1910.

5- 1 l' .Y M 5 i.illIllllllllllllllllllllii Patented Aug. 6,

4 SHEETS-SHEET l.

WITNESSES 2 Ihn/ENTORI,v

ATTORN EY W. J. PHBLPS. GAN FILLING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION IIYLED NOV. '1. 1910.

Patented Aug. 6, 1912.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

@nimm MUE- -lllllm miv l'NvEN'l-oRr` ATTORNEY WITNEssEs W. J. PHE'LPS.

CAN FILLING APPARATUS.

APPLIGATION FILED Nov. 7, 1910.

Patented Aug. 6, 1912.

4 SHEETS-SHBET 3.

INVENTORl WITNESSES ATTO R N EY W. J. PHELPS. CAN FILLING PPARATUS.

@RPLIGATION FILED Nov. 7. 1910.

Patented Aug. 6, 191.2.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 1,

WITNESSES ATTORNEY time of forming sition of such hole,

P FFlhL ONE-HALF TO ,FRANK GEBBIE, or ROCHESTER, NEW YoRK.

CAN-FILLING APPARATUS.

inoenafioa.

To all whom it may concern.'

Be it known that l, WALTER citizen of tbe 'United Baltimore, State ofMaryland, have invent new and useful Can-Filling Apparatus, of which thefollowing is a specification.

. Thisinvention has reference to improvements in machines for fillingcans and is designed 'more particularly for the introduction of milkinto cans, the milk being oi. the kind commonly known as evaporatedmilk, andthe object of the invention is ,to provide a machine for theintroduction ot' milk into cans which are entirely closed except for thepresence of a small perforation in the center of the top of the can,such perforation'being of a size to admit of ready sealing by a. smalldropof solder.

With cans of the character described the top may be made of one piecewhich at the has a small hole punched through the metal at the centerthereof although under the 'g ture where the cans are made in greatquantities there is alack of exactitude in the poso that there may be avariation ot' a few hundredths Aof an inch in the position of such holewith relation to J. PHELrs, a

the longitudinal axis of the can, the latter being of cylindrical form.

Furthermore.

the .hole must be of small size, so that theclosing of the hole bygasmall quantity of solder may be brought about without danger of any ofthe solder dropping through the hole into the interior of the can. meansthat the' tree diameter of the hole should not exceed, say, aboutone-sixteenth of an inch, and the filling-machine is therefore providedwith milk conduits of a size which will pass through such hole and stillpermit the'fescape of air as the'milk passes into the can Withoutcausing` the deposition of'any milk on that portion of the can topimmediately surrounding the hole, so that the soldering operation is notinterfered with andthe necessity of cleansing the top of the can inorder to permit the soldering is avoided.

Though the machine is designed more particularly for the filling of canswith milk, it may be used for filling cans with otherl liquids, andWhile in the'tollowing descrip? tion it is assumed for the purposes ofsimplicity ot' description that milk is the liq;

@uid used; it will be understood thatthis Specicationof. Letters Patent.Appiieation sied November?, 1910 States, residing at.

This

Patented Aug. 5, 1912. Serial No. 591,134.

term is employed as b ut any liquid material which may be delsired to'beintroduced into cans.

.--t The invention will be best understood from a consideration ofthefollowing detailed description, taken in connection with meaning not'only milk,

the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification, andthough the drawings show a practical embodiment of the invention, thelatter -may be otherwise embodied wit-hout sacrifice of any 'of thesalient features of the invention.

In the drawingsr`Figure 'l is an elevan tion of the machine witlrsomeparts in section and broken away. on the line 2-2 of Fig. l with someparts in elevation. Fig. 3 is a plan view of the machine. plan view ofthe milk tank or reservoir. Fig. 5 is a section through one of thefillingr conduits and adjacent parts on a larger scale than the otherfigures. Fig. 6 is an enlarged diametric section of the can engaging endof the iilling tube and showing a erative relation thereto.

Fig. 7 is an elevaternal diameter throughout.

a base plate l to which is secured a post these elements constituting inthe main supporting means for the machine.

Mounted on the post 2 is a. sleeve 3 extending for the greater portionof the length of the post and constituting a hollow shaft. In theordinary the post 2 is upright and the shaft upright. The panded into athe base 1 are introduced balls 5 forming an anti-friction step bearingr.for the shaft 3. Near its lower end the'shaft 3 carries a bevel gearWheel 6 driven by a bevel pinion 7 on a shaft 8, which latter may betaken as a 3 is, also,

c drive shaft receiving power in any suitable manner as from a pulley 9,and mounted on this shaft may be a loose pulley l0. so that power maybeapplied to the shaft by a siiittion ofthe actuating cam as viewedfromthe right hand side of Fig. 1. Fig. 8 is a View4 of the machine.'

lower end of the shattis'ex. foot 4 between which fandportion ofa can inopf iin rectly connected to the shaft 8 or not, such eatures not beingmaterial to the present invention.

Applied to the shaft 3 near the upper end thereof is a spider 11carrying at its periphery an annulus 12 by suitable spokes, and wherethe spokes join the annulus they are expanded to provide for passages 13of noncircular contour, preferably square, or otherwise arranged.

Fast to the annulus er ring 12`r of the spider 11 by bolts -14 or othersuitable fas' tening means is an annular reservoir 15 into which inilkmay be introduced in a manner to be described, and it is from thisreservoir that the milk is directed into cans. The top of the reservoirmay be open and in the bottom there is formed a circular series ofpockets 16 constituting the barrels of force pumps, as will hereinafterappear, and in the bottom ot each pocket there is provided a plug 17 forcleansing purposes,

Arranged about the outer wall of the reservoir 15 are bearing blocks 18preferably in the same radial lines as the passages 13 of the spider 11.

Below the spider 11 the shaft 3 carries a'nther spider 19 having radialspokes tr; ii ating at the outer ends in heads 20 '-ach provided with apassage in line with the passage 13 of a corresponding portion o thespider 11 and similarly shaped. Ex tending through each passage 13 andthrough the corresponding passage in a head 20 of the-spider 19 is a rod21, there being many rods as there are passages 13 and heads 20, andthese. rods are shaped to conform to the passages through which theyextend, the cross sectional shape of each rod 21 being indicated in thedrawings as square, but any shape of rod may be used so long asprovision is made to avoid movement ot the rod about its longitudinalaxis.

Each rod extends through a passage formed in a head 22, such head beingsecured to the rod by a set screw 23, and such headis formed on one endof an arm 24 formed at. an intermediate point with a head or enlargement25, and at the end remote from the head 22 with another head 26. Throughthe 'head or enlargement 25 are formed passagercne for a piston rod. 2Yand the other for fz pipe or conduit 28. The piston rod extends into thereservoir 15 and at thelower end has a stem 29 of reduced diameter, towhich is fitted a piston 30, and this piston may be rabbeted to receivea packig ring 31 held to the piston by a plate or washer 32 in turnsecured to the piston rod by a nut 33, the function et the washer 32being to hold the packing ring 31 to the piston Il() and to expand thesame by pressure thereupon due to the screwing of the nut 33 on thestein 29, the latter being appropriately threaded for the purpose. Thepipe 28 passes through washer 32 will 'find lits way through the4passage 34 into the pipe 28: The piston rod y is made fast to therespective arm 24 by a set 'screw 35 or otherwise, and since, as willhereinafter, appear, the arm 24'is given an up and 'down reciproeat-orymovement the piston" red 27 -and piston 30 participate in such movement,The parts are so positioned that each piston 30 is movable into and outot a pump barrel 16 depending from the reservoir 15, the downwardmovement of the arm 24 causing the piston to enter the barrel and sinceno other outlet is rovided, 'the contents of the barrel are theretiyforced to find escape through the pipe 28 and when the piston is raised,air finds its way into the barrel 16 through the same pipe 28. Thetravel of the piston is sufficient to carry the so that milk wit-hin thereservoir may then gravitate into the barrel, the air drawn into thebarrel through the pipe 28 by the lifting et' the piston then findingescape around the space between the piston and the upper end of thebarrel, through the mass of milk within the reservoir and finally outthe top of the reservoir.

F or convenience of assembling the pipe 28 is provided with anintermediate union 36 and where the pipe passes through'the head 25 itIis secured thereto by a set screw 37 or by other suitable means. Abovethe arm 24 the pipe 28 is bent into a goose-neck 38 and then carriedthrough the head 26 and below the same, being lheld to the head 26 b v aset screw 39 or by other suitable means. The end of the pipe whereextending below the head 26 is threaded for the introduction of a plug40 which is shown as a block recessedy at the ends as indicated at 41,42, the edges ofthe block surrounding the recess 42 being designed toengage the top ot' a can 43 under circumstances to be described, whileextending from the recess 42 to the exterior of the block are shortpassages 44, and extending axially through the block is a pipe 45 ofsufficient length to enter a can 43 through a` perforation 46 thereinwhen the lower end of the block 40 is in engagement wit the cutersurface of` the top ot the can, the length of the pipe 4:3 beyond theouter end of the block 40 being only sutlicient to extend through theburcaused b v the punching ot the holc 46 in the top of the can.

The arm 24 between the heads 25 and 26 is provided with a passage 47,and the arm is there provided with an enlargement 48 to accommodate suchpassage. The passage '4T is traversed by one cud of a rod 49 in turntraversing a corresponding bearing 18 same above the upper end of thebarrel 16,

. largement 55a 4S and the spring `pipe 28 and the rod 49.

-64 and these rollers eline GG to its lwest` point,

y:Losanna on the outer wall ofthe reservoir 15. The

rod 49 on opposite sides of the head\48 has fast thereto collars 50, 51,and between the head 48 and the collar 50 the rod 49 is 'surrounded b va spring The movement of the rod 49 in one direction with respect to the1111124 is determined by the collar 50 `and spring vand in the otherdirection by c the collar 5l, the spring 52 being compressed as thecollar50 ismoved'toward the head tending to maintain the vrod 49 in aposition where the=collar 51 is in engagement with the head 48. At apoint between 50 each rol 49 has applied thereto a. shell 53 of a'sizeto receive a can 43. Oneedge 0f the shelf, such edge being the rear ortrailing edge considering the direction of rotation of the machine,which direction is clockwise, is -at an angle to a Vradius includingacorrespendingl rod 21, the piston rod 27, the

Thisangle or beveled edge is formed with an upturned flange 5.4, andanother flange 55 may be formed at that edge of each shelf adjacent thereservoir 15. Each shelf is formed with an enprovided with a passage forthe rod 49, .and the table is secured in any propel' position on the rod49 by a set screw 56. 4

Each rod 49 below the'bearing 18 carries a finger 57 held to the rod bya set screw 58, such finger' having its upper surface slightly curvedtransversely to the length of the finger for a purpose which willpresently appear.

The post Qis extended above the upper end of the hollow shaft 3 andthere has fast to it a hub 59 from which radiate arms 60 carrying achanneled cam 61 of appropriate contour. This cam is endless and itschan nel port-ion is at all points equi-distant from the longitudinalartis of the post 2, but varies at different points in its circumferencewith reference to its height above 'the base 1. The cam is held to thepost or standard 2 by a set screw 82, and since the post 2;is fixedrelative to the other parts of the machine, the cam G1 is also likewiseiixed. The head 22 of each arm 24 has fast thereto a stud 63 carryingatits outer end a roller 64 are adaptedsto the channel portion of thecam 61, so as to travel thereinf..l f A The cam is for a portionl of itslength approximately horizont-al, as indicated at 65, and from one endof this drops toward the base by a Lontinuous deand from this pointapproaches the other end of the horizontal portion 65 by an incline G7steeper than the decline 66,-but'these parts will vary in machines ofdifferent sizes, so that no positive proportions of these parts can begiven. The cam Gl Vis designedto impart the 'bearing 18 and the collarvatan appropriate distance horizontal portionV itsA can.

motion to the arms 24 and the pistons 30 and pipes 28 carried thereby,and such motion is participated in by the shelves 53 except as willhereinafter appear. The horizontal portion 65 of the cam is designed tomaintain the pistons 30 out of and above the pump barrels 17, so, longas the rollers (54 are traveling in such horizontal portion of the cam.As soon as the declined portion 66 of the cam is reached, the arms 24are moved downwardly; so that the pistons 30 enter the correspondingpump casings and the pipes 2S participate in this movement Whicll isalso participated in by the shelves 53, and

the -rollers 64 again reach the horizontal portion 65 of the can, andduring thel travel through this horizontal' portion the parts arequiesent so far as Vertical movement isconcerned, except that theshelves are moved independently of thearms 24. This last namedfmovementis brought about by means of a bar 68 held by standards 69 rising fromthe floor upon which the machine is installe and this bar is curvedabout the vertical longitudinal aXis of the machine so as `to be in thepath of the fingers 57 as the rotated parts of the machine are moved inthe operation of the-machine. The ends of the bar 68 are curved orbeveled as shown at 69a, so as to readily override the fingers andvforce them to move to the under edge ofthe bar, along which they willtravel during a portion ofthe rotative movement of the, machine, thesprings 52 yielding to this movement, while the arms 24 are held intheir uppermost position by the horizontal portion G5 of thev cam G1. Atan appropriate point in the travel of the shelves 53 there is located afinger 70 positioned to override the shelves, but to engage 'the canscarried thereby and direct these [fans in conjunction with thebeveledflange 54 on to a run-Way 71, to one side of the machine from Y machineis clockwise. The operator stands.

in a position approximately intermediate of the four and five oclockpositions if the showing of Fig. 8 be compared to a clock, so that theoperator is between the run-Way 71 and the pulleys 9 and 10. The shelfon reaching "this position is maintained in the lowered position withthe spring` compressed by the bar (5S which engages the finger of theshelf under consideration as the shelf approaches the'run-ivay todischarge There is ample room for the operator .to place a can upoiiytheempty shelf beneath the block 4t) and then to lift the can so that thelower end oi the pipe 45 enters the perforation 46 in the can and as theshelf then quickly rises umler the action of the spring 52 when itreaches the beveled elevating end (39a ot the bar 6R the can top isbrought into engagement with the block 40 with the tube 45 enteringl thecan by Yay of the hole 4G and the can is clamped to the shelf by theaction ot' the spring' 52 through the block 4t), the parts beingIproperly proportioned for this purpose. empty can has been carried asutlicient distarnce in the centin fed travel of the machine, the cansuppcrt, the pipe. 2S and piston 30 are moved dmvnward by the action ot'the A declined portion (3G ot the cani (Si and milk .within the pumpcasing lti under ccnsideration 1s caused te [low through the pipe 2S toand through the tube 45 and into the. can, the movement of the pistonbeingr so timed that the milk is vtort-ed into the can, but not undersuch pres-ure as to cause foaming: It is to-be noted that the movementot the piston in the active direction is a comparatively long continuousmovement made necessary by the small size otl the tube 45. The capacit)vof the pump casing 1G. and the stroke oi the pump piston determine theamount of milk which will pass into a can and as soon as the can hasbeen filled to the proper height the withdrawing movement of the pistonbegins, but the shelf and can which participated in the downwardmovement also participate in thc upward movement.- Since the interioro't the pump casing is closed except through the pipe 2S the withdrawalof the piston causes an inrush of air through the pipe. The only pathYfor air to the pipe. 2S is by way ot' the passage 4G in the can wherenot occupied by the tube 45 and thence by way ot this tube to the pipe2Q, the air reaching; the passage 4t by 'way ot the passages 44 in theblock i0. Should, therefore, any milk have reached the top of the canimmediately about theI hole 46, the inrush of air through which hole-l-( will draw such milk into the can, leaving the hole clean and anymilk which when the down stroke ot the pump ceased remained in the pipe2S and tube 45 is drawn through these members to the interior ot thepump casino' it thus preventing any dribbliue's ot milk from the tubes45 when ultimately separated t'rom the cans in which the)1 have beenintroduced. As soon as the. piston has been completely withdrawn tromthe pump casing or pocket 1G. the air drawn therein-to finds escapearound the piston through the body of the milk in the reservoir, and thepocket is quickly tillcd with a tresh supplyy of milkpready t'or therciutroduction Otl tl'ifl piston and the driving;- ot' the milk intoanother can. ity the time the piston has been withdrawn .-\.s soon astheV may be desired.

from the respective pocket, the finger ofthe shelf carrying the canunder consideration has reached the bar 68, and the continued rotativemovement of the machine causes the finger and the rod 49 carrying thefinger to move downward for a limited distance against the action of thespring 52, thus likewise depressing the shelf 53 as before described anddropping the can away from the block 40 to an extent sufficient. .toeompletely withdraw the tube 45 from the can, so that the ting-er 'T0may now act on tht` lan to move it awayt'roni its shelf 53 on to therun'- way 71 and the empty shelf is by the continued rotative movementlof the machine carried to a position in .trontof the operator, who nowplaces a tresh can upon the shelf and directs it into position so thatthe tube will enter the peritel-ation 46 in the can whether suchperforation be axial to the can or not, the operator, ifnecessary,'lifting the can into engagement with the block 40 until thefinger 57 rides from under the bar (S8 and the sprinel 52 returns theshelf to its normal position, clamping the can against the block 40,after which th milk is driven from the reservoir into the can in themanner already described, the air within the can escaping through thehole 4G around the outer walls ot' the tube 1.5, the said tube being'purposely smaller than the hole in the can or shaped to permit theescape of air through such hole outside the tube.

in order to maintain the supply otl milk in the reservoir 15, an'annularreceptacle. 72 is made fast to the upper end oit' the shaft 3 b v a setscrew 73, and 'trom this'annular vessel there leads a pipe T4discharging,` into theI reservoir. The vessel '7 2 participates in therotative movement oit the shaft '73 and milk may be introduced into thisvessel through a pipe 75 provided with a valve 76, either continuouslyor intermittently, as

The valve 75 may be located within easy reach of the operator. Should itbe necessary at any time to stop the machine, the operator may readilyshift the belt Jfrom the tight to the loos-e pulley. It is desirable toAcleanse the machine thoroughly after each days run, and the milk may bewithdrawn Atrom the reservoir by removing the plugs 117, and if desiredthe pipes 2S may be separated at the unionsBG and those portions'connected to the arma 2t may be removed therefrom by loosening the setscrews 37 and 39 and all the parts may he thoroughly cleansed andsterilized by directing streams ot steam against all parts necessary.Since absolute cleanliness is mainlatcry in machines at this characterwhere milk is the liquid being filled into cans. the facility with whichthe machine may he cleansed andsterdixed constitute.: an impartant'feature of the invention.

The machine is shown in the dra wings as provided with eight pumps, eachwith a co acting filling tube and shelf for the can, but it will beunderstood that the machine is not limited to any particular number ofsuch devices since it may be made as large as desirable to accommodate agreater number of cans at one time, in which case the speed Jof themachine may be correspondingly increased, while the speed of the pumpplungers may be kept within the limits necessary to prevent foaming ofthe milk. By making the rotatable members' of sufliciently great radialextent, it -is possible to multiply the number of pumps and-associatedparts so that in one circular series two or more complete operations maybe performed with ia like number of operatives to supply the emptycans,the relations of the several parts being correspondingly arranged. A

In the practical embodiment of the machine, the number of pumpsand-associated parts may be two or more times greater than shown in thedrawings without exceeding to establish an inow of therefore,

the capability of a single operative inaintaining the machine suppliedwith empty cans, the increased size of themachine not affecting thespeed of the pump plungers or pistons to an extent to cause so rapid amovement of the milk into the can as to cause foaming.

It has been found in practice that by making the discharge conduit forthe pump of the same small diameter as the tube .45 throughout itsentire lengt-h, there are certain advantages over making the conduit of.larger vdiameter than the nozzle ordischarge end. lilith a tube smallenough to enter the perforation usually provided in the top of a can,and still permit t-he escape of air through said perforation, eventhough thc discharge end ofthe conduit be presented therein, there issuflicient adhesion of the milk to the walls of the vtube and surfacetension of the end of the column of milk at the outlet end of the tubeto resist the entrance of air into the tube in a manner to permittheoutflow of the milk lodged innthe tube from the upper cndfof thegoose-neck to the discharge end of the tube. If the conduit be ofsufiicient internal diameter at the discharge end, the` wei ht Yof themilk aboye the `discharge endof the conduit is sufficient to start anoutflow of the milk and air, so that there is produced a stream of air'entering the conduit and a corresponding outflowing stream of milk untilthe downturned end of the conduit is emptied of milk.I The smalloutv-lct end of the conduit, whether in the form of the tube 45 orwhether the conduit is of the same small diameter throughout, preventsthe establishment of the opposing streams of milk and air, and themilk-is,

retained in that end of the coriduit designed to enter the can, and thenecessity of valves of any kind to prevent the outflow of milk isavoided, this being due also to the fact that the highest point of theconduit is above the highest level of milk within the reservoir. Whenthe piston has completed its active stroke, there is an instant of rest.uhich, if the conduit were of large size, might start an outflow ofmilkl due to the weightof the column of'milk above the discharge end ofthe conduit, but the small Asize of the discharge end of the conduit.,which is so small as to be substan tially capillary will resist any suchmovement of the milk. When the piston is on its return or inactivestroke, air enters through the conduit, and particularly where theconduit is of small size throughout any milk remaining within theconduit is returned to the pump barrel except `possibly some smallamount which may still` cling to the walls of the conduit. If such milkfinds its way to the discharge end of the conduit it will not passtherethrough in the shape of dribblings because of the capillaryattraction preventing the escape of such accumulations of milk from thedischarge-end of the conduit.

In Fig. 8 there is shown a conduit 28 having close to its nozzle ordischarge end ablock 4()a like the block 40 shown in Fig. (l. This blockhas its'end provided with the recess or concavity 42 and is o f circularoutline, and in one plane without break, so as to engage the top oft-he.canat all points of' the block, the can as might occur were the passages44 for the air in the form of notches in' the bot.- tom of the block,thus reducing the bearing. area of the block upon the can.

The piston rod QT andthe conduit 28 or 28a are adjustable in thearm orcarrier 24, and the shelf 53 is adjustable along the rod 49. Thispermits the active stroke of the piston 30 to be adjusted at will, thispiston being designed to always move out of its pump barrel to permitthe inflow of milk from the reservoir. By increasing the distance thepiston moves above the pump barrel, the distance that it moves into thepum barrel is diminished and consequently the effective active stroke ofthe piston is correspondingly diminished, and the amount ofmilkdiscliarged from the pump barrel is correspondingly smaller. By thismeans it is possible to adapt the same machine without change of stroketo the filling of' cans of different capacity or of different heights,or both, with the assurance that the cans will each receive thepredetermined amount of milk in the operation of tho machine. As shownin. Figs. l and 2 the extent of 'adjustability of the conduits 2S issomewhat limited, but in Fig. 5 the extent of adjust.- ability is shownas indeterminate and may,

thus preventing any mai-ring of iso lation to the discharge end ofsaidconduit,

and means connected ositively tothe liquid impelling member, tllie andthe can support for causing simultaneous movement thereof with relationto the barrel of the pump. f

2. In a machine for filling cans, a suitable reservoir, a series ofpumps carried' thereby and fed from the reservoir,' said pumps beingprovided with reciprocatory pistons, fluid conduits each 'communicatingpumps including pistons, means for causing reciprocate-ry movement ofthe pistons, conthrough a respective iston with a respective pump andmovab e with said piston, a can support in operative relation 'to thedisf` charge end of each conduit, and also Inovable With'the respectivepump piston, and means for imparting reciprocatory movementofpredeterminedI character to each group of connected members in order.

3; In a machine for filling cans, a suit-able reservoir, a series ofpumps carried thereby and fed from th'e reservoir, said pumps beingprovided with reciprocatory pistons, uid conduits each vcommunicatingthrough a respective piston with a. respective pump and movableivithsaid piston, a can support in operative relation to the dischargeend of each conduit and also movable with the respective pump piston,andmeans for imparting reciprocatory movement of prede-v terminedcharacter to each group of connected members in order, said meanscomprisingan actuating means for imparting rotative movement to thereservoir and to the pumps Aand connected reciprocatory parts associatedtherewith, and an impelling means for said reciprocatoryv parts actingin like manner upon the groups of reciprocatory parts in order.

et. In a machine for lling cans with liquid, a rotatable reservoirprovided with pump-barrels depending therefrom, recip- .rocatory pistonsone for each pump barrel,

piston, means for imparta carrier for each ing reciprocatory 'movementto thepistons by the rotative movement of the reservoir, liquiddirecting conduits each participating in the rcciprocatory movement of arespective piston and adapted to' communicate with the respective pumpbarrel through its piston, and can supports individual tn and sustained-vby the carrier for their respective pistons.

5. In a machine-for filling cans Withnlitnid,iiai,suitable reservoir forthe liqui discharge conduitl pumps fed from said reservoir and eachprovided with a piston, liquid directing conduits individual to andparticipating in the stroke of each pump piston, and a can supportindividual to and also participating in the Vstroke of each pump-pistonand also having a range of movement independent of the pump piston.

6. In a machine for filling cans with liquid, a suitable reservoir forthe liquid, pumps fed from said reservoir and each provided Witli apiston, liquid directing conduits, individual to and participating inthe ports individual to and participating in the 'stroke of each pistonand also movable independently of the said piston, the independ-v entmovement of a can support being of less extentthan the movement of thecan support with the piston.

7. In a can lling machine, a series of duits for directing material fromthe pumps, can supports in operative relation to the discharge ends ofthe conduits, eac-li'condu'it and can suppo-rt individual to arespective piston being connected to said piston for simultaneousparticipation in the reciprocatory movement thereof, and means forcausing the movement of each can support away from' and toward thedischarge end of the respective conduit independent ofthe movement ofthe respect-ive piston under the actuating means therefor.

8. In a machine for filling cans, a pump provided with a reciprocatorypiston, means for imparting to the piston an active movementA sufficientto discharge the requisite amount of liquid to fill a can, liquiddirecting means participating in the reciprocate-ry movement of thepiston and constituting ak discharge conduit for the pump, and' a cansupport having an extent of travel in the direction o-f the activestroke of the piston commensurate with such travel of the piston.

9. In a machine for filling cans, a pump provided with a reciprocatorypiston, a discharge conduit for the pump participating in thereciprocatory movementof the piston, a can support, and connectionsbetween the latter and the piston whereby the can sup-A portparticipates'in the reciprocatory movement of the piston to a likeextent in both directions of the travel of said'piston.

10..In a machine. for lling cans, a pump provided with a reciprocatorypiston,

`stroke of each pump piston, ,and can supi a discharge conduit for thepump connected to the piston for participation in the reciprocatorymovement thereof, and a can sup- 1211:.

connected to the piston for participation in'the reciprocatory movementthereof to a like extent in botli directions of the travel of thepiston, said can su; port having means for causing a liinitedextent portalso through a' like extent-of travel, said can support having a limitedextent of travel toward and from the outlet of the discharge conduit ofthe pump independent of the movement of the piston and having a. normaltendency toward said conduit.

l2. In a machine for filling cans, a rotatable reservoir for liquid, aseries of pumps carried by the reservoir and supplied -thereby, eachpump being provided With a reciprocatory piston, a discharge conduit foreach pump participating in the movement of the piston, a support for acan in operative relation and individual toeach discharge conduit andparticipating inthe longitudinal movement of the conduit, said cansupport also being capable of limited movement independent of theconduit, means for -imparting reciprocatory movement to the pistons andparts connected therewith during the rotation of the reservoir, andmeans for imparting to the can supports movements individual theretoduringaa predetermined portion ot the rotativemovenient of thereservoir.

13. In a4 machine for filling cans, a rotatable reservoir, a seriesof'pumps carried thereby each provided with a reciprocatory piston and adischarge conduit movable with the piston, a can support movable withthe piston and discharge conduit and in operative relation to the latterand also having an extent of'movement to and from the discharge conduitindependent of the movementof the piston, mea-ns for imparting to thepistons in order active and return movements by .the rotative movementof the reservoir, said actuating means being neutral to the pistonsduring a predetermined portion vof the rotative movement of thereservoir, and means active to the can supports to move' themindependently of the reciprocatory movement of the pistons during theperiod of the rotativemovement ofthe reservoir when the pistons arequiescent.

14. In a machineA for'filling cans, an annular reservoir havingdepending pump barrels thereon, a rotatable support for'the reservoir towhich-the latter is secured and` With which it rotates, reciprocatorypistons Within the reservoir inoperative relation to the pump barrelsand movable-into and y t of the same, a. support for each piston,

`guides for the support, a discharge conduit for eachpump carried by thepiston-and lits support vand movable therewith, a supporting rod carriedby each piston support and movable therewith and having a limited eX-tentof movement independent of the'support, a can receiving ehehccarried by the said supporting rod, means for constraining the'supporting rod for shelf in a direction to move the shelf toward theoutlet end of the pump discharging conduit, a camacting on each pistoncarrier in order to cause a reciprocatory movement of the piston with anintermediate period of quiescence, a projecting member on each cansupporting rod, and a fixed actuating member in the path of theprojecting members on the can supporting vrodsfor causing a movement ofthe can supporting rods 'independent of' the pistons while the latterare traversing that portion fot1 the line of travel Where they have noreciprocatory movement.

15. In a can filling machine, a conduit for directingfluid through asingle' orifice in one head of the can, said conduit having a terminalportion adapted to engage the head of the can about. thc 'singleorifice, said terminal portion being in normally7 fixed relation to theconduit and having a cavity With passages leading therefrom to theexterior of said terminal portion` and a central tube projecting bevondthe plane of the can engagi g end of the terminal portion of theconduit.

16. In'a machine for filling cans each provided With a single smallfilling orifice inA one head, a liquid directing vconduit pro-l videdivith a terminal blck in normally iixed relation to the conduit andhaving a cavity in one end with passages leading therefrom to theexterior-of the block, said block being shaped about the cavity toprovide a plane can engaging portion adapted to Contact With the head ofthe can about the filling orifice, and a tube extending axially throughthe block in fixed relation thereto and beyond the plane of the canengaging end of the block and of a 'diameter to enter the fillingpassage in the can.

the can carrying 17. In a machine for filling cans, a rota- Y tableannular reservoir carrying pumps, each with afreciprocatory piston, ad'ischarge'conduit for each pump movin-g with the piston, can supportsone for each pump in operative relation to the outer end oftherespective conduit and also movable with the piston and having a limitedextent of' movement independentI of the piston, a rotatable carryingmember for the reservoir, affixed supporting member for the rotatablemember, ay cam carried by the fixed member, means connected with eachpump piston for engaging'the camto actuate thepunnp piston in accordanceWith the conformation ofi'thel ias cam, means for operating the cansupports independently of the piston at a predetermined point in therotative movement of the reservoir and pumps, and a rotatable .liquidreceiving vessel carried by the rota-` rlmally .constant relationthereto, and means x axis otal can 25 for causing a'movemcnt of theconduit and can support dinal axis of a can lodged on the supportbetween the same and the-condugitduring the filling operation to anextent proportionate to the depth to which the liquid .is to be fed tothe can.

19.'In a can lling'machine,y a liquid` di'- recting conduit, and a cansupport in normally constant relation thereto, means for causing amovement of the conduit and can support in the direction of thelongitudinal lodged on the support between the same and the conduitduring the lling operatiomand mea-ns for causing movement of the-cansupport away from the conduit to release a can lodged therebetween atthe termination of the vfilling operation.

20. In a can filling macliine,a liquid directing conduit and a supportfor a can cooperating to grip a 'can between them with the conduitentering the can through a perfoi-ation therein, means for impartingorbital movement to the conduit and can holder, movement to the-conduitand can holder with a can lodged therebetween in the direction of thelongitudinalI axis of such can.

21. In a can filling machine, a liquid directing conduit and a supportfor a can cooperating to grip a can between them with the conduitentering'the can through a perforation therein, means for impartingorbital 'movement `to the conduit and can holder, means for causing .aprogressive movementof the conduit and 4 with a can lodged therebetweenin the direction of the longitudinal axis of such can, and means forcausing a movement of the can holder independent of' the liquid conduitand away therefrom at the termination of the filling operation.

22. In a can filling machine, a liquid directing conduit and a supportfor a can c0- operating to grip a can between them with the conduitentering the can through a perforation therein, means for impartingorbital movement to the conduit and can holder', means for causing aprogressive movement of the conduit and can holder with a can lodgedtherebetween in the direction ot' the longitudinal axis of such can,

and means for causing a movement of the can holder independent ofthe'liquid conduit in the direction of the longitu` and means forcausing a progressive l can holder and away therefrom at the terminationof4 the filling operation, and for causing the return' of the can holderto its normal relation to the conduit subsequent to the movement ofthecan holder away from the conduit.

23. I n ai can filling machine, a reciprocable piston, liquid conduitand can support joined for simultaneous movement.

24. In a can filling machine, a reciprocab le piston, liquid conduit andcan support joined for simultaneous movement, the can support having alimited range of movement independent of the combined movement of thesaid members.

25. In a can filling machine, a reciprocable piston, liquid-"conduit andcan support joined for simultaneous movement, thev can support beingmounted for limited independent movement `relative to the other membersand having a normal constraint to maintain a predetermined relationthereto.

26. In a can filling machine, an annular reservoir for liquid having acircular series of depending pump barrels, an axial support for thereservoir, means for rotating the reservoir about the axial support, apump piston for each pump barrel, a liquid conduit carried by each pumppiston and hav. ing its discharge end exterior to the reser- Voir, asupport for each pump piston, guide members for the support constrainingit to move in a direction to carry the pump piston into and out of therespect-ive pump barrel depending from the reservoir, said guides beingfast to and participating with the parts carried thereby in the rotativemovement of the reservoir, a fixed operating cam acting on the pistonsupports to' im'- part reciprocatory movement thereto, a can supportsustained by each piston support and movable therewith 4to acommensurate extent, each can support having an independent limitedrange of movement in theiston support, and means independent movement ofcach cam support at a .predetermined point in the rota? tive movement ofthe reservoir. A

27. 'A can filling machine comprising a supporting post, a hollow shaftmounted thereon, means for imparting rotation to the shaft, an annularreservoir mounted on the shaft and rotatable therewith, said res ervoircarrying a circular seriesof depending pockets constituting pumpbarrels, pistons one for each pump barrel, a carrier for eachvpiston, alongitudinally movable' guide rod for the carrier, guides for the rod infixed relation to the rotatable shaft, an actuatingr cam for the pistonsupports in normally fixed relation to the post or standard and actingto cause reciprocatory movement of the pistons in order as the reser-'voir and piston supports are rotated, dise4 for causingA the range ofmovementI in lcover of the can to `by each piston support and having alimited range of movement therein, a spring on each rod constraining itto one limit of its the support, a shelf carried by each springconstrained rod in operative relation to the nozzle of a correspondingliquid conduit and adapted to hold a can inl position with the conduitnozzle in the perforation inthe can, and operating meansv for the springconstrained rods in the path thereof to cause a movement of each rod inorder independent of the member carrying it at a predetermined point inthe rotation of the rotatable chine.

28. In a can filling machine, arotatable series of can supports,meansfor imparting orbital movement to said supports, Ameans forimparting vlongitudinal movement to each can support in the direction ofthe lonparts ofthe ina-,

gitudinal axis of a can lodged thereon, and means other than the lastnamed means for impart-ing to the can support a movement in Vthedirection of the longitudinal axis of Aa can lodged thereon.

29. In a can lling machine, a reservoir,

pump barrels communicating therewith, a piston for each pump, adischarge conduit for each pump, actuating means for the pistoncarryingthe same and the discharge conduit, both the piston and the dischargeconduit being in adjustable relation to the actuating means, and a cansupport for each discharge conduit in operative relation thereto andadjustable to and from the said l conduit.

In testimony, that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have heretoaffixed my signature in the presence of two Witnesses.

TWALTER J. PHELPS. Witnesses:

JOHN H. Sicsnizs, E2 G. SioGERs.

M v opies of this patent may be obtained for live cents each, byaddressing the Commissioner of Patents Washington', D. C.

